MEETING DR. BROWN

The website is all about his life and work; here, let us focus on defining and celebrating his outstanding personal qualities.
grinder
Senior Officer
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over 7000

Post by grinder »

I just wanted you to notice Neenie that your "Meeting Dr. Brown" post is the highest viewed post on this forum, with over 7000 views now. Thank you for having the foregsight to put it out there so that we could all respond and share our thoughts about Dr. Brown!

Will you and Pat be able to go to Vegas to watch Paul introduce the material on Dr. Brown? I am sure that Paul would like very much to meet you in person. I wish I had had the opportunity , like you, to spend time with Dr. Brown and his family and be considered personal friends. grinder
Victoria Steele
Mysterious Redhead
Posts: 930
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:06 am

keeping his family safe

Post by Victoria Steele »

Mr. Twigsnapper has just posted a very interesting answer to something Mikado had written in the Sarbacher?Smith side of the forum and he said something there that I thought would be better asked about here in this section. Mr. Twigsnapper said that Dr. Brown loved his son, daughter and wife more than his work ....... and I thought ...... thats right ..... there was that picture of that cute little boy in his fathrs arms. Joseph Brown.

Paul, when you get back can you tell us more about Joseph? I understand that he must have died because early in this book when you are mentioning how you got started in collecting information you stated that you contacted Linda .... Townsend Browns "only surviving child". So, I am sorry about that. Joseph must not be with us any more.

But Linda apparently had a baby that grew up on Catalina and Neenie and Pat mentioned Dr. Browns son too and I think grandchildren! So are there sons/daughters of Joseph Brown out there reading this? and if so .... May I ask? ..... "What do you think of the story as it is developing about your Grandfather?"

Did Joseph ever have any idea that his Dad was into this kind of stuff? I mean, "armed escorts" and "classified information" and "flying saucers" and " communication systems with other intelligences maybe?" Thats alot of stuff not to know about.

Or if you do remember your Grandfather at all, what are the things that come into your mind? I am beginning to realize that he might have kept most of his life a total secret from the people that he loved the most and how hard that must have been. And how much he must have worried about your safety.

And in one early section Paul mentions that Dr. Brown and his son Joseph were estranged? Why would that be? Does anyone know why Paul would get that impression?

I suppose maybe I am treaspassing on ground that Linda and her extended family would consider private but if anyone is out there who can shed any light at all it would sure be nice to hear from you on the forum. I think that you can tell by the things that we have said that we all have the utmost respect and regard for the work that your Grandfather did and the person that he was. A fine heritage! Victoria
grinder
Senior Officer
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Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:20 am

seemingly strange

Post by grinder »

It does seem strange to me that Dr. Brown would be so really ... whats a good word .... permissive? .... of his daughters behavior when it came to her affair with Morgan. Paul said recently, "this is before the "summer of Love "and the concept of "free love" in not quite in full bloom, (not that all that many people bought into it anyway actually.)

Nodding consent to a developing passionate affair between your young daughter and this guy who hitchhikes down to meet her at your own home in Florida? A guy sporting a beard I think it was mentioned. A damned HIPPY some would have said! Why would a man as seemingly conservatively raised as Townsend Brown even allow that to happen? And Josephine actually I think sort of liked this kid too. She would have had to because she accepted him as if they were already married ..... but all the time, when Linda wasn't there she was warning Morgan to "let her go" and I think the phrase " before you break her heart" was in there somewhere. If not, it probably should have been. She seemed to know as much about the future as Dr. Brown did.

Well, I guess that I have figured (along with the rest of you) that Dr. Brown knew more about this Morgan kid than even his daughter did at this point. Perhaps he even knew that Morgan would become many years later sort of his "right hand man" in a very dangerous world? And he told Morgan that pretty early in the game that was developing. " Linda NEEDS not to know. Cripes! the kid should have seen the handwriting on the wall because I think Townsend Brown sure did.

So Victoria. Maybe your lovers were "starrcrossed" from the beginning. grinder
Victoria Steele
Mysterious Redhead
Posts: 930
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:06 am

Not either / or

Post by Victoria Steele »

You know, maybe this is too personal a question to put out there but this is directed to Linda. From everything that Paul has mentioned ( admittedly not very much) about your personal life NOW. How difficult was it for you when the love of your life (when you were a very young woman) walked back into your life so many years later? How difficult has that been? No . Don't bother answering that one. Its sort of a silly question.

And the story as it is unfolding right now. The New York experience etc. It must be hard also to see all of this old history brought up for everyone to share? Another silly question! Just full of them today. How about this. Where is the rule that says a person can only love one person at a time?
And is that the position you find yourself in NOW? And then I think ... what was Morgans saying " Avoid the Either/Or scenarios??? Just from a womans standpoint. Something I have been thinking about. What happens when an old flame comes back into your life?

Also did you guys notice something wonderful? This particular post has gone over 11,000 viewers ..... the most in all of the others! and I think thats because those who browse through really want to know what it was like for others to " meet Townsend Brown" . Thanks again Neenie so much for putting it up.

Paul, still no word at all from the Brown grandchildren? Or have they been talking to you all along and you just haven't mentioned it to protect their privacy? I could understand that. Silly question! Again. Victoria
Elizabeth Helen Drake
Sr. Research Asst.
Posts: 1742
Joined: Fri Sep 23, 2005 6:11 am

decidedly feminine answer

Post by Elizabeth Helen Drake »

Victoria,

I have a decidely feminine answer for that sort of feminine veiled question about old flames.

Some of us out there may be more experienced than others. But I'll bet one answer might be ...... "when you have an old flame ..... and curtains to a household you value, it is wiser to keep them apart."

However, if it is an" old flame up against a new flame" ..... then ..... may the strongest flame win. In your case, ..... good luck. Elizabeth
grinder
Senior Officer
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how did you meet?

Post by grinder »

I was just sort of flipping through the different subjects and I hit this and I wondered if I could ask you Mr. Twigsnapper just how you first happened to meet Dr. Brown.

You have said that you were his " armed escort" during 1955-56 in London and in Paris. Great picture of the two of you in Paris! He looks like he is having a pretty good time and you sir, remind a friend of mine of Tyrone Power! We have talked about your time there and then with Dr. Brown but I wondered what you thought of him when you first met.

Just trying to put myself in your shoes a little because I sure would have liked to have met him and I am a little jealous of Neenie and Pat and of course you because you did get that chance to get to know him.

Since you were " responsible" sort o,f for him, did he ever do anything that upset or worried you? Or maybe something funny that made you laugh? I am assuming from the things that you said about him and his entire family that you really liked the man and I was wondering what qualities were there that you appreciated? grinder
Paul S.
Sr. Rabbit Chaser
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Location: Psych Ward

Patience, please

Post by Paul S. »

grinder wrote:I was just sort of flipping through the different subjects and I hit this and I wondered if I could ask you Mr. Twigsnapper just how you first happened to meet Dr. Brown.
I know you're biding your time here, waiting patiently for the next chapter. Just, please, indulge me a couple more days. Your questions will be answered next week.

--PS
Paul Schatzkin
aka "The Perfesser"
"At some point we have to deal with the facts, not what we want to believe is true." -- Jack Bauer
grinder
Senior Officer
Posts: 694
Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:20 am

leaveus alone?

Post by grinder »

Yeah, Leave us alone long enough Paul and you run the risk of us all writing our own versions of this story just because all of us are so interested and invested in it.

Here is my thought from what I have already learned. We all know now that Mr. Twigsnapper here on the Forum is the character that you have called " O'Riley". I guess O'Riley was involved in the midget sub attack ( which I looked up . I THINK that was in September of 1943). I got the impression that was one of the first thing that challenged our Mr. Twigsnapper and then he doesn't mention much about what he was doing in the next year. He has mentioned just recently the French Resistance and he told Mark C alot about his own (Marks) father and the fact that he was a member of the Jedburg teams. I have a feeling that ORiley must have been involved in at least the training because I THINK that the knife he threw down at the young Morgan was one of those commando knives, if not, at least Mr. Twigsnapper admitted to having one. So we get a pretty good look at the guys earlier career.

I know that you are reading this Mr. Twigsnapper so I have to say how much I have really enjoyed your posts! I can tell that you were then and (probably still are!) quite a ladies man. I also have the feeling that you could be dangerous. You have admitted growing up in dangerous times and surviving how ever you could. You mentioned blowing things up and the fact that you had a wonderful appreciation for some of the ladies around you at the time.

So all of a sudden you and Townsend Brown are together? You are driving? and there are refugees on the road? I have a hard time imagining where you might be with those conditions but from what you last posted it has to be Germany! And you make a point of letting us know what was happening toward the end of April in certain parts of Germany. Soooooo I have to think thats where Townsend Brown is going after leaving Josephine in California. I can barely wait to get the whole story ! grinder
Elizabeth Helen Drake
Sr. Research Asst.
Posts: 1742
Joined: Fri Sep 23, 2005 6:11 am

Neenie

Post by Elizabeth Helen Drake »

Have you noticed Neenie that the discussion thread that you started has nearly reached 12,000 "visitors"~~~~~~. I just wanted you to know that it has been the most visited site and I wanted to thank you especially for putting it up.

Have you and Patrick been watching the discussion happening under "Brain Prints"? Would Patrick like to join the discussion? Seems to me that with his understanding of Dr. Brown and his further understanding of the medical field that he would have some stellar insights. And of course you know I value your input too!

Hoping you both are well! Elizabeth
Elizabeth Helen Drake
Sr. Research Asst.
Posts: 1742
Joined: Fri Sep 23, 2005 6:11 am

Character study

Post by Elizabeth Helen Drake »

I just wanted to pull this out from another area and post it here and hopefully we will never lose it. This message is a remark made by Mr. Twigsnapper regarding the character of Townsend Brown and I thought in rereading it that we needed to put it to the top. He captures how I have always imagined Townsend Brown and hoped that others could see it too.

viewtopic.php?p=1823#1823

Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 4:36 am Post subject: taking care of Dr. Brown

Victoria,

My, its hard to get away from that dangerous, hard as steel, James Bond image, isn't it?

I have titled this post "Taking Care of Dr. Brown" because I hope that it will give you an idea of his true character. He would not have been the dangerous fellow in the shadows. He generally was able to leave that to others.

Dr. Brown was the smiling, totally charming, somewhat vunerable individual that just indeared himself to the people around him. He could demonstrate an impish sense of humor which would sometimes take you by surprise because it would spring unbidden seemingly in a very serious environment.

The ladies simply adored him. I have seen ridiculously tough executive secretaries for important individuals just melt away all their reserves when it came to Townsend Brown. Sometimes they would even forget what they were doing. And all of them wanted to Mother the man in the absolutely most shameful way. He, to them, seemed so in need of their feminine charms and protection.

He was the consumate gentleman. He asked carefully constructed questions .... as in " Good Morning Grace. Is your Mother better this month? Did she get a chance to see that specialist?" And then he would listen to her every word, totally absorbed in her story of what problems her mother was having. It usually only took a few minutes, he never stayed in any office very long but Grace would remember that conversation and six months later the two would pick up where they left off, meanwhile if there was anything he ever needed out of that office ... he always got the first draw. I was always rather amazed.

So, you see, you do not have to be the fellow in the shadow to get information. The object is to have people just hand it happily over.

Morgan, I think discovered that when he first met with the man who was introduced to him as Mr. X. He didn't know at the time that he was meeting with the ultimate spymaster and yet made the note that he "told the man everything about himself during that sailing trip. And this was out of a fellow who generally kept things close to his chest.

So you see, Townsend Brown was actually perfect for this sort of involvement. He had the intelligence, honor and a deep sense of purpose that could not be swayed or discouraged.

Ask others Paul, don't just take this single impression. Twigsnapper
........................................................................................................

I am still just amazed at how lovingly Mr. Twigsnapper presented this material. Elizabeth
ladygrady
Junior Birdman
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Location: Boston

and please note

Post by ladygrady »

The viewing count for this thread that Neenie started is nearing 13,000. grady

And a postscript now just a few days later (April 25th .... well over 13,000!) grady
Mark Culpepper
The Dean
Posts: 655
Joined: Sun Feb 19, 2006 6:02 am

what would he do now

Post by Mark Culpepper »

I just wondered sort of .... what would Townsend Brown do now? I know that its pretty obvious from what Paul wrote that he staged sort of a " delaying action" on the things that he had developed in his mind. That was in the fifties. So in watching what this Forum has been doing and talking about since Paul wrote " the end" its obvious to me that we all have been struggling with WHAT NOW. And it seems like some of us here have been pretty interested in just going on with his work. Go Forth! And so I just wondered what would he HIMSELF have done in this age? Would he promote the work? Or would he throw an anchor out there? Or would he promote something totally different. I remember Linda said that his special phrase was " do the unexpected" so I just wondered what that might be?

Paul? You have been pretty quiet. Whats happening with you? You have mentioned the dreaded word REWRITE so I wondered if you are going into that yourself or if you are going to wait to have the assistance of a publisher and editor before you tackle that. Seems to me rewriting without their input might just be an exercise in double work? What you might consider important to drop out, maybe they would lobby to keep or vice versa? What you are facing is a major chore and the help of a good editor might be worth it?

Since I am not that scientifically inclined and tend to doze off when things get too technical the current messages on the forum have me a little lost. ( Not complaining folks, finding it fascinating, but you have to admit its just a little hard to follow. And sometimes I wonder if the math experts who are NOT joining you in your conversations are just busy taking notes? Is that good , or bad? Showing my paranoia side I guess.

So in the spirit of something easier maybe. I just wondered why the thread titled " Consortium" was locked out? Was it something we said?

And on a personal level. I was wondering how Elizabeth is ? and if she is going to continue to help you with the rewrite or is this something that you have to do all by yourself? Sort of miss her .... "Mom" comments.

MarkC
James Barrett

whatever

Post by James Barrett »

My best bet Mark. Whatever he would have wanted to do, his daughter is in the middle of it. And I would certainly expect then the unexpected. <g> James
twigsnapper
Revered Elder
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around in a circle

Post by twigsnapper »

I would expect her to be involved absolutely, which means she probably will distance herself! Good luck figuring that one. twigsnapper
Paul S.
Sr. Rabbit Chaser
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Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2005 1:11 pm
Location: Psych Ward

Re: what would he do now

Post by Paul S. »

Mark Culpepper wrote:Paul? You have been pretty quiet. Whats happening with you? You have mentioned the dreaded word REWRITE so I wondered if you are going into that yourself or if you are going to wait to have the assistance of a publisher and editor before you tackle that. Seems to me rewriting without their input might just be an exercise in double work? What you might consider important to drop out, maybe they would lobby to keep or vice versa? What you are facing is a major chore and the help of a good editor might be worth it?
I'm just sort of circling the inevitable at the moment. A re-write looms, but like you say, it would be nice to have some kind of "ally" in the process, an objective set of eyes to wander through the wilderness with.

Other than that I'm mostly trying to keep my head clear.

--PS
Paul Schatzkin
aka "The Perfesser"
"At some point we have to deal with the facts, not what we want to believe is true." -- Jack Bauer
Locked